On 23 July 2009, human rights defender, Mr Mohammed Saleh El-Bejadi was informed by the passport authorities in Barida, Saudi Arabia, that he continues to be banned from travelling. Mohammed Saleh El-Bejadi is a supervisor of the website “Monitor of Human Rights in Saudi Arabia-Al-Marsad” and was previously the host of a weekly on-line forum called “The citizen and his rights”, which was reportedly considered provocative by the authorities.

Further Information

Throughout 2009, Mohammed Saleh El-Bejadi, his wife and other members of the family have received threatening phone calls and messages. In March 2009, he was summoned to the Intelligence Police (Mukhabrat) department and interrogated about his relationship to internet reports and protest activities which had called for democratic reforms and the release of detainees.

In May 2008 he was visited by a police intelligence officer who threatened him and tried to force him to sign a commitment to stop his activities,

On 9 January 2008, he was arrested for contacting two prominent activists, Dr Abdulla Al-Hammed and Dr Matrouk Al-Faleh, and for talking to the press about his own previous detention.

The “Mukhabrat” confiscated all of his files, notes, video films and bank papers, none of which have been returned to him. His passport was also confiscated and since then he has been prevented from travelling.

In 2007, Mohammed Saleh El-Bejadi publicly called for a sit-in in front of the district governorate to call for release of detainees, which took place on 1 September 2007. He called for this gathering through statements to foreign satellite channels and news agencies.

On 4 September 2007, he was arrested and detained for four months in solitary confinement without charge or trial. On 1 January 2008 he was released on the condition that he would not organise any fora or gatherings, not join any group (i.e. reform groups) or contact any foreign press.

Front Line believes that the ongoing harassment and travel ban against Mohammed Saleh El-Bejadi is directly related to his activities in the defence of human rights in Saudi Arabia.

Front Line is concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Mohammed Saleh El-Bejadi.